He received a special education for that time at the Ionian Gymnasium and with teachers such as the Italian Richard Kazatis, Thomas Gulio, Ioann. Ioannis Ioannis, Ioannis Golios, Ioannis Ikonomidis and Th. He was a member of the school, who worked in the field of music, and was a member of the school’s staff. At the age of 17, he took part in the revolutionary and fighting efforts for the liberation of Ionian Islands from the English. The restless father sends him to the friendly family of the Mompferatas in Kefalonia. There he broadens his literary studies and his militant faith since the Momphertos were pioneers of radicalism. He returned to Corfu but his impetuous nature again forced his father to send him to Odessa to join other associates to engage in trade. When the ship reached Constantinople, Martinelis disembarked and returned to Corfu. His fate was now predetermined.

In 1853 he was arrested by the British for his activities and was exiled for eight months to Kythera. After his return he wrote articles against the British occupation. He receives his diploma from the Ionian Academy but never practiced law. The second great love of his life was poetry, to which he subsequently devoted himself. In 1886 he came to Athens and collaborated with various magazines, where he remained for five years. He returned to Corfu until his untimely death at the age of 60. His poetic work is influenced by Solomic poetry. He wrote (sonnets) patriotic, love and satirical poems. He is distinguished for the purity and lyricism of his style. He also wrote works in French and Italian. We mention some of his works: Courtiers and Commanders (1874), The Heroes of Montenegro(1878), Erotica (1879), Ode to the Death of Kanaris (1881), National Icons ( 1886) etc. His daughter collected in one volume most of his poetic output under the title Songs (1921).